Shopify setup
Shopify store setup
A Shopify store is quick to open and slow to get right. The account takes minutes; the decisions about products, payments, shipping, policies and structure are what decide whether the store is ready for real customers.
We set up new Shopify stores from an empty account to a tested, handed-over store you can run yourself, and we tell you plainly which parts depend on your country, your products and the apps you choose.
Illustrative diagram
- Markets and paymentsWhere you sell and how customers pay
- CatalogueProducts, options and variants
- StructureCollections, menus and filters
- BuildTheme, products and pages
- Test and hand overTest orders and walkthrough
What a setup covers, and what it does not
Setup is the work between "I have a Shopify account" and "customers can find a product, pay for it and receive it". It includes configuring the store settings, building the catalogue structure, adding or importing products, connecting payments, defining shipping, writing the pages customers expect, and testing the full order path.
It is not the same as a custom theme build, a migration from another platform, or ongoing marketing. Those can be added, but keeping them separate keeps the first quotation clear and lets you launch sooner. If you already sell on another platform, our WooCommerce to Shopify migration page explains how that work differs.
Typical scope of a Shopify store setup
Every store differs, so this is a starting point for discussion rather than a fixed package.
Typically included
- Store settings: store details, currency, units, checkout and customer account options
- Theme installation and configuration using an existing Shopify theme
- Collections and navigation planned around how customers shop
- Product entry or CSV import for an agreed number of products, with variants and images
- Payment provider connection and test orders
- Shipping profiles, zones and rates
- Core pages: about, contact, shipping, returns and policy pages from your information
- Handover walkthrough and written notes
Agreed separately
- Custom theme development or bespoke sections
- Product photography and copywriting at scale
- Data migration from another platform
- Paid apps, subscriptions and ongoing marketing
What we need from you
- Your business and contact details for the store and policies
- A product list, ideally as a spreadsheet, with prices, variants and stock
- Product images you have the right to use
- Where you will ship to and how you want to charge for shipping
- Your logo and any brand colours
The order decisions need to be made in
Most setup delays come from deciding things in the wrong order. Products cannot be structured until options are agreed, and shipping cannot be finalised until you know where you sell.
Confirm markets and payments
Check which payment providers are available for your business country. Shopify Payments is only offered in some countries, and that affects checkout options and multi-currency selling.
Output: Agreed payment approach
Define the catalogue
Decide product types, options and variants. Shopify supports up to three options per product, and a high variant count can be a problem for some themes and apps even within platform limits.
Output: Product data template
Structure and navigation
Plan collections, menus and filters around how customers look for products rather than how stock is stored.
Output: Collection and menu plan
Build and enter content
Configure the theme, add products and write the core pages using your information.
Output: Store ready for testing
Test and hand over
Place test orders, check emails, shipping charges and taxes settings you have chosen, then walk through day-to-day tasks.
Output: Launch checklist signed off
Launch readiness checklist
Not everything has to be perfect on day one. This split helps you launch without skipping what matters.
Before launch
- Test order placed and refunded successfully
- Shipping rates show correctly for each destination you serve
- Order confirmation and shipping emails reviewed
- Returns, shipping and privacy pages published
- Domain connected and the store password removed
- Contact details work and are monitored
Can follow shortly after
- Additional collections and seasonal pages
- Email marketing sign-up and welcome sequence
- Extra apps once real orders show what you need
- Search engine descriptions refined for every product
- Additional languages or markets
Situations where a managed setup helps
Moving from social or marketplace selling
You already sell, but need a store you control with your own checkout, policies and customer list.
Large or complex catalogue
Many variants, sizes or bundles need planning so filters and stock tracking work from the start.
Selling to several countries
Markets, currencies and shipping zones need to agree with each other and with your payment provider.
Limited time
You know your products but would rather not learn every setting before your first sale.
Questions about Shopify store setup
Do I need my own Shopify account?
Yes. The store should be owned by you, on an account in your business name. We work as a collaborator or staff account so you keep full control of the store, billing and data.
Can you set up a store with an existing theme?
Yes. Most setups use an existing Shopify theme configured to your brand. A custom theme is a separate piece of work and is only worth it when an existing theme cannot do what you need.
How many products can you add?
We agree the number in the quotation. For larger catalogues a structured spreadsheet and CSV import is usually more reliable than manual entry.
Will you choose apps for me?
We recommend apps only where a built-in feature cannot do the job, and we explain any recurring app charges, which are paid by you to the app provider.
What happens after handover?
You receive written notes and a walkthrough. Ongoing support, changes and maintenance can be quoted separately if you want them.
Sources referenced
Platform features, guidance and rules change. We check the current versions before committing to an approach. This page is general information, not legal advice.
- Shopify Help Center: Shopify Payments supported countries (opens in a new tab) — reviewed 2026-10-22
- Shopify Help Center: Adding variants (opens in a new tab) — reviewed 2026-10-22
- Shopify Help Center: Shipping zones (opens in a new tab) — reviewed 2026-10-22
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